My kids were both sick last weekend. Summer colds are the worst. So hard to get rid of, you know?

Whether you’re a parent, teacher or nurse, the cold and flu bug is out there all year long so it’s good to be prepared – but how? With Kleenex Anti-Viral Tissues.

Kleenex Anti-Viral Tissues actually kill viruses in the tissue, so you can fight the bug all year long.

Grab your kids and check out this funny Kleenex commercial. They’ll get a kick out of it!

I’ve teamed up with Kleenex to offer one lucky reader Kleenex Anti-Viral Tissues as well as a $50 Visa Gift Card. To win, let us know in the comments section below how you Battle the Bug all year long, and don’t forget to check out www.battlethebug.com!

For extra entries:

• Blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post and to www.battlethebug.com.
• Subscribe to my feed (or let me know if you already do).
• Follow me on Twitter (@OhMariana) and tweet about this giveaway: Battle the Bug with Kleenex Anti-Viral tissues and enter to win a $50 Visa gift card from @ohMariana! http://bit.ly/6iFTN
• Grab my button and link to me in your sidebar or blog roll.
• Become a fan of Riding With No Hands on Facebook.
• Add my blog to your Technorati Favorites by clicking on the button in my sidebar.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry and leave a valid email address or blog URL in your comment. US entries only. This contest ends at 11:59 pm EST on Tuesday, July 14th, 2009. Winner will be chosen at random, and has 3 days to claim their prize.

Scott Common Sense is all about making the most of the time you spend with family and friends. From unique ideas on how to be a savvy traveler, to how to create affordable get-togethers, the Scott Common Sense Community is your go-to destination for tips and advice. There are tons of articles to read through and fun organizational tools and online calculators to experiment with. This is a screenshot of the homepage:

I’ve teamed up with Scott Common Sense to giveaway one $50 Visa Gift Card to put towards those backyard barbeques, along with coupons for Scott Long Lasting products. Just leave your favorite summer tip in the comments section below for your chance to win!

For extra entries:

• Blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post and to www.scottcommonsense.com.
• Subscribe to my feed (or let me know if you already do).
• Follow me on Twitter (@OhMariana) and tweet about this giveaway: Learn about the Scott Common Sense Community and enter to win $50 Visa gift card from @ohMariana! http://bit.ly/FOO8T
• Grab my button and link to me in your sidebar or blog roll.
• Become a fan of Riding With No Hands on Facebook.
• Add my blog to your Technorati Favorites by clicking on the button in my sidebar.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry and leave a valid email address or blog URL in your comment. US entries only. This contest ends at 11:59 pm EST on Tuesday, July 14th, 2009. Winner will be chosen at random, and has 3 days to claim their prize.

My babies aren’t babies anymore, but they still love to crawl around and play on the floor, so I try to vacuum, sweep, and/or mop often to keep it as clean as possible. It’s hard to tell if it’s really clean, though. There can be more germs on household floor surfaces than on toilet seats, kitchen counters and bathroom tiles combined.* This is why I was so interested in reviewing the Oreck Halo.

The Oreck Halo is a new vacuum that features UV-C technology, the same type of germicidal light used for sterilization in hospitals and water purification plants. This UV-C light kills germs, bacteria, viruses, allergens, and mold, all without the use of any chemicals … More

I just found out about UPrinting.com – a wonderful printing company that is blogger-friendly. I just joined their Blog Sponsorship Program and can’t wait to see what awaits! I’ve heard fellow bloggers have been given the opportunity to review some of UPrinting’s products, get to host awesome giveaways, and even have the chance to win cash prizes!

Why UPrinting.com isn’t your average printing company:

Blog Sponsorships:
If you are looking to find a sponsor for your blog, UPrinting.com is definitely interested. We offer giveaways, advertising and more for qualified bloggers.

Non-Profit Sponsorships:
The U-Community Program sponsors hundreds of non-profits and education to improve our local communities.

Social Justice Projects:
The UPrinting Kiva account promotes small business growth in developing countries.

Green Printing:
UPrinting supports a sustainable future by recycling, using non-toxic inks, and offering eco-friendly recycled paper stocks for business cards and postcard printing.

I could ask myself, “Where has Rubbermaid been all my life?” But no, everyone’s heard of Rubbermaid, me included. I’m just cheap. I’ve been getting by with using old margarine and takeout containers to store leftovers, only because I had no idea what I was missing.

Rubbermaid sent me a 20-piece set of their products a few weeks ago, and let’s just say all my old plastic containers are now in the recycling bin.

This set is amazing! It contains products from four different lines:

Easy Find Lids

• For everyday storage.
• Durable and long-lasting.

Produce Saver

• Extends the life of your fruits and veggies, keeping them fresh and crisp up to 33% longer.
• Fresh Vents in the lid allow airflow.
• Crisp Tray, a thin insert that you place at the bottom of the container, keeps moisture away. This has worked beautifully for keeping my veggies, fruit, and herbs fresh.

Lock-Its

• Features 4 locking tabs and a built-in rubberized gasket for an extra secure seal.
• Perfect for throwing lunch in your child’s backpack!

Premier

• Stain and odor resistant for a lifetime of clarity. This is the one … More

I’m a little late to the party, but finally set up a Facebook page for this site. It took all of 3 seconds to create. I kept putting it off because for some reason I thought it was more complicated!

By the way, did you see my new look? Yes, I know… I change my blog design as often as award show hosts change dresses. But I saw this new theme on Saturday on www.press75.com and just couldn’t help myself! I think the carousel at the top of the homepage shows off my giveaways beautifully! I haven’t checked it in other browsers besides Safari and Firefox, so if it looks wonky to you please let me know.

So go on… don’t be scared… click on the badge to the right and become a fan. It might even get you an extra entry into a big giveaway that starts tomorrow.

A big thank you to my little brother for being my #1 fan!

As you may remember, last month I announced that I was chosen to be a part of the wonderful new Frigidaire Test Drive campaign. Well, I’m thrilled to tell you that my new Frigidaire Affinity washer and dryer are here! Well, not quite installed in my laundry room yet, but they’re on the truck in front of my house. I just couldn’t wait to tell someone, though!

There’s a little hint of a … More

As you can see in my right sidebar, I participate in a lot of different networks. Back in March I became a columnist for An Island Review, where I write the weekly “Review Blogger of the Week” column. When Kailani asked me a few weeks ago if I wanted to review products as well, I just couldn’t say no!

Kailani’s personal blog, the very popular An Island Life, is one of the first “mommy blogs” that I ever read and subscribed to so working with her is really an honor. She’s also the founder of the Family Review Network which I’m sure just about every one of you has heard of!

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know about a review I just did for Positive Parenting Solutions. It’s a very useful parenting course that I’m still working through. If you head over to An Island Review, you can enter to win one of two 4-month memberships, each valued at $199. The catch is that it ends tonight. Sorry for not telling you sooner!

So I’ve been using the EA SPORTS Active for Wii for just over 3 weeks now. I said that I loved it after week 1, and I still do. I’ve lost 2 lbs, which I know doesn’t seem like much. I’m kind of bummed about that, but only have myself to blame since I haven’t exactly changed my eating habits.

I have noticed a change in my body, however. Especially in my back! All those exercises with the resistance band are really making a difference. My bra strap doesn’t dig into my back like it used to, and I even pulled out a couple of old ones that I hadn’t worn in a while because they were too tight.

I started the 30 Day Challenge on low intensity, which is now too easy for me. Medium intensity is just right for a comfortable workout, and I’ve done high intensity a few times. The kick-ups on the track really kill me, but I get through it! I have found that the resistance band isn’t as, well… resistant as it was when I first started. I don’t think I’ve stretched it out or anything, it’s just that my arms are stronger.

I bought an accessory kit a couple of weeks ago so I can have friends over to work out with me, and it’s been great. I love the two-player mode. You can choose from dozens of different preset workouts or create your own custom workout, and you both work towards the same goal.

If you’re interested in trying EA SPORTS Active, you can find it on Amazon. If you’re not sure if you want to invest the $50+, my friend Jill is giving away a copy of the game over at Musings From Me, but you have to hurry because her giveaway ends tonight at midnight!

I love, love, LOVE Thai cuisine. There’s a great little restaurant about half a mile away from my house that has the best buffet on the weekends. Pad Thai noodles, Tom Kha Gai soup, Panang Curry… you name it. Just thinking about it is making my mouth water!

Although I walk through the international section of the grocery store often, I’ve always been intimidated by all the products available, so I’ve never tried to make Thai food myself. Unfortunately we can’t go out to eat as often as I’d like anymore, so when I was given the opportunity to try out a selection of Thai Kitchen products I got all excited and hungry and stuff. What’s new, right?

After making Red Curry Chicken for dinner the other night, I’m pleasantly surprised by … More